The bucket wobbled.

Meet Carolina Guerrera and Carolina’s upper thigh. This 31 year old biologist and law student is so passionate about her country and its well preserved nature that she has the flag tattooed on her body. She is the divorced mother of a 13 year old daughter and the foster mother of a 15 year old boy she rescued from a dysfunctional family. She also takes care of 3 dogs and she is an amazing naturalist guide. We have loved being in her company.

Mind over matter. That’s what we figured as we dragged our body for three days across bull shark infested rivers and through 60 km of primary and secondary tropical jungle called Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. 

We experienced many of the natural wonders ( the huge trees with their lianas and epiphytes, the weird insects, the black and green poison dart frogs, a snotty nosed anteater, plenty of spider monkeys which were jumping all over the place, several coatis, 1 crocodile, 1 tapir, the rivers cutting through the green, 2 otters, the general steaming jungle vibe) which keeps slipping back on our bucket list wherever we roam. But at times instead of ticking off the list, it felt like we were about to kick the bucket itself, once and for all.

On the last day, we started gasping for oxygen as we were plodding through the sand along the coastline of the Corcovado national park . We were being grilled and sucked dry, like 2 white raisins in the sun. But our guide Carolina bravely set the pace and wisely ignored the fact that the 2 retirees she had in tow could melt down any moment now into a pitiful puddle of brackish water, sweat and sports drinks.

But then, all of a sudden, we were jolted back to life as if struck by an electric eel: all it took was a flock of scarlet macaws giving us a display out of national geographic. Their raucous flight and dazzling colors against the vivid green and bright blue sky was a pure shot of adrenaline. So we are hooked again. Jungle hikes are back on the bucket list. The moment my old motorcycle busted ankle is more or less recovered, we will be ready for another quest into the woods. Snakes cannot keep eluding us !

And now we are back on O2. Yesterday, to celebrate our feat, we shared a healthy fruit juice with Carolina who kept entertaining us with anecdotes ( many Costa Ricans have been named “Usnavy” and “Danger” because of the many boats their parents saw passing by. And pronounced in a Latino way they liked the sound of it.) Carolina Guerrera has restored our faith in the future of the planet. The world belongs to young warriors like her, who realize what needs to be done and who get themselves proficient in matters of law and politics in order to enforce it. 

So here’s to you Carolina and your beloved Costa Rica ! Pura vida indeed.